We Are The Church: Week 4

INTRODUCTION

Video Description: Welcome to our FINAL WEEK of We Are The Church as we take a look at the THIRD of THREE MINISTRY PURPOSES regarding the church and how being called to MINISTER to THE WORLD is a vital part of helping you grow in your relationship to Christ.

CHURCH is a local assembly of believers that desires to WALK with Jesus together, GROW to be like Jesus together and ultimately LOVE like Jesus together.

Ministry Purpose #1 - We are the Church and we are called to Worship GOD.

Ministry Purpose #2 - We are the Church and we are called to Minister to ONE ANOTHER.

Ministry Purpose #3 - We are the Church and we are called to Minister to our WORLD.

This mission to minister to the world is not a mission we have created. This mission is our mission because it is God’s mission.

The church is called to minister to the world because it is God’s mission to save and restore this world.

Understand that when I talk about our mission and purpose, it is rooted first in God’s mission.

This mission to restore and bring salvation to the world did not begin in the New Testament with the church. It began in the Old Testament.

Genesis 22:17–18 NIV

17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

God’s mission to save and reach the world..and bring them back to worship Him has been his mission since the beginning. In the OT, God called Israel to be a set apart people, that lived holy lives to be a city set on a hill, and by their righteous living they would draw nations to worship God at the Temple in Jerusalum. In the OT it was a “come and see” mission. The world was to come to see God at the temple, and the Israelites were to draw them by thier life. But it didn’t work because Israel was not commited and holy..they were idolatrous. And so they were not a light, and thier unfaithfulnes brought about destruction of the temple, and captivity for the people.

In the NT, God knew that He was going to have to do more than give the law. He was going to have to give his Spirit and write the law on their hearts. So Jesus takes the punishment for our sins, lives the life the Israelites could not live, and now offers His spirit to all who believe. Now, the Spirit is not in a building, but in His people. We are the temple. So before…the nations would “come and see” God in one place in the temple..God empowers His church with His spirit (His people)..so that they now “go and tell”.

What am I saying? God’s mission to the world has always been there! And so the church does not have a new mission! We are now working to reach the world for God, because it is God’ mission.

Train Track: Mission—>On Mission We Live, Off Mission We die

A church that is not on mission to seek and save the lost has no reason to exist.

We are either missionaries or a mission field!

Here is how you can sum up the mission of the church:

Goheen defines “mission” as the whole church taking the whole gospel to the whole person in the whole world.

WHOLE CHURCH- Recap of Week 1-3

We are a body and we need eachother. We do not move forward in unity we will not grow.

WHOLE WORLD- God’s heart is for all people.

John 3:16-17

John 3:16–17 NIV

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

WHOLE GOSPEL

There is no other way to the Father except through the son

There are alot of good things we can do, but without Christ and the gospel, it is eternally worthless

There are not multiple ways to God, there is one through Christ.

We also don’t get to pick what parts of the gospel we like or don’t. The Whole Gospel, The Whole Truth, Christ and Christ Alone!

The church is saved by Christ, empowered by Christ, to proclaim Christ!

Vertical Church VISION: Sharing the HOPE of Jesus with our communities and the world.

Vertical Church MISSION: Leading people to be passionate about Jesus so they can lead others to Jesus.

We are calling people back to worship and enjoyment of Jesus. Week 1- Worship

Missions exists because worship doesn’t- We are called to the world because the world does not worship.

And if we reject Christ’s mission, its because we have rejected Christ!

If we are going to join God in His mission it must be the whole church, with the whole gospel, to the whole world, and the whole person!

WHOLE PERSON

We must remember that people are more than spiritual beings, they are physical, emotional, relational..and the gospel impacts the whole person!!

Matthew 4:23

Matthew 4:23 NIV

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Jesus didn’t just preach the good news for thier soul, he brought healings for thier physical bodies too!

We minister to our world THROUGH SHOWING MERCY and COMPASSION regarding PHYSICAL NEEDS

Elmer Thiessen in his writing on the “Ethics of Evangelism” says this, “Ethical proselytizing that respects and protects the dignity of persons must always be an expression of concern for the whole person and for all of his or her needs – physical, social, economic, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. To care only for the salvation of the souls of persons is unethical. It involves an objectification of a part of the person, and as such violates that person’s dignity."

Do you know that when the church only preaches the gospel, tells them about Jesus..but neglects their physical needs, we are violating thier dignity as a person. Its similar to racism or sexism where we reduce a person to one aspect of who they are. Christ is invested into the whole person and so must we be!

Mark 1:40–42 ESV

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Matthew 14:14–16 ESV

14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.”

James 2:15-16

James 2:15–16 NIV

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

Jesus demonstrates that the gospel speaks to the whole person. And a church that preaches but doesn’t show mercy and compassion for peoples needs misunderstands the gospel, Christ, and its mission!

Vertical is a church that doesn’t just want to preach to people but to reach people. To meet them in their pain and help them and love them!

Churches are guilty of forgetting thier mission and thinking that our job is not to just invite people to the building or temple as it was in the OT, but to “go and tell” “Go and love” as Christ has done in the NT.

5 Reasons we should show mercy by Mike McKinley:

Reason #1 - Deeds of mercy demonstrate the character of Christ.

When we as a church are invested into the whole person, the physical and spiritual and emotional…we accurately demonstrate who Christ is! To just share what Christ has done, apart from loving people as Christ has done..is like preaching only part of the gospel. We unknowingly communicate that Christ cares about your spirit, but he doesn’t care if you’re hungry, or depressed, or cold, or lonely..as long as you’re saved!

No, that is not Christ and that is not the church. We are called to show mercy as Christ has showed mercy!

Reason #2 - Deeds of mercy show the power of the gospel to change us.

When you show mercy, and love..to people..serving them in their mess..it demonstrates the power of the gospel to change you!

Saul (Paul) in Acts was killing Christians.

Acts 9:3–6 NIV

3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

God speaks to Him..and sets Him on a new mission!

Acts 9:15 NIV

15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

This persecutor of Christians, man who saw Gentiles as unclean and dirty…was called to now minister and serve them!

And there were people who heard about Paul coming and said, isn’t this the man that killed and persecuted! They couldn’t believe what had happened..but his change brought attention to the power of God!

Paul served and loved and reached! He didn’t just preach, but he ministered and showed mercy to Christians, Israelites, and Gentiles!

You see the gospel will turn your old enemies into new ministries!

It can change you from a persecutor to a healer. From an addict to a therapist. From depressed to counselor. From angry to gentle. From living in homsexuality, unforgvieness, or whatever sin..it can free you to walk in the light of God’s freedom..and you will be so changed that people won’t recognize you!

When we serve, not just the spiritual needs, but physical needs of others, we demonstrate how God changes us!

Reason #3 - Deeds of mercy model a pattern of discipleship.

John 13:14–15 NIV

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

John 13:16–17 NIV

16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Jesus washed feet! That would have been reserved for the servant, or people their own feet. But the master washed his disciples feet..setting an example, that there is nothing too dirty, too messy, too heavy, to low..that we should not be willing to stoop to serve and love people!

Hear me! Just love people!

Mercy is not optional as a disciple of Christ. We don’t get to say, not the addicts, not the criminal, not the homosexual, not the single mother, not them. No! We must serve and show mercy! Period. That is the mission. When you turn from broken people you turn from Christ!

When you say, “Thats too hard, too much time, too much money to give or love” You have lost sight of the gospel, of Christ.

Jesus washed Judas’ feet. Why? Because they were dirty.

The only prerequisite for showing mercy is needing mercy. There is not category of person that is too dirty or sin that is too much!

This is a discipleship issue! We must serve. It is the mission of God, and the mission of the church.

Galatians 6:10 NIV

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Reason #4 - Deeds of mercy acknowledge the human condition.

Humans are not just spiritual beings. And our needs our complex. Sometimes we need a hug, a meal, a friend..don’t just pray for me..do that, but do more than that.

It’s important that we recognize that there is an order to our needs, and that sometimes our greatest needs are not our most immediate needs. So we can say with confidence that the greatest need of every human being is to be reconciled to God through faith in Christ. But if someone comes to your door with a gaping head wound, that need, though lesser, is more urgent. First you must take care of the head wound, and then you should share the gospel.

I was hungry, and you formed a humanities club and discussed my hunger.

I was imprisoned, and you crept off quietly to your chapel in the cellar and prayed for my release.

I was naked, and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.

I was sick, and you knelt and thanked God for your health.

I was homeless, and you preached to me the spiritual shelter of the love of God.

I was lonely, and you left me alone to pray for me.

You seem so holy, so close to God, but I’m still very hungry, and lonely, and cold. -Unknown

James 2:17 NIV

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

The human condition is more than spiritual, its not less than that..but it is more.

Reason #5 - Deeds of mercy generate opportunities to share the gospel.

Mercy, loving people, reaching people..opens the door for genuine conversation!

Most people aren’t looking for a church, they’re looking for a friend!

Lost Sheep Ministry- Gloves

Take the gloves off. Get close. That is our mission!

WHOLE PERSON

We minister to our world THROUGH SHARING THE GOSPEL and MAKING DISCIPLES addressing SPIRITUAL NEEDS

Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 13:10

Mark 13:10 NIV

10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.

John 17:15-18

John 17:15–18 NIV

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.

Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 NIV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is our mission. This is our call!

So what am I saying, both of these must be done in conjuntion together!

If we serve people via social programs and humanitarian efforts, that is good..but without the gospel all we do is comfort people untill they get to hell.

I want you to be fed, but most importantly..let me shrae with you the bread of life.

I want you to be clothed, but most importantly with the robe of Righteousness and the blood of Christ!

I want to give you something to drink, but most importatnly to offer you the rivers of living water.

Faith without works is dead..but so is works without faith! The whole church preaches the whole gospel to the whole person in the whole world!

Our VISION: Sharing the HOPE of Jesus with our communities and the world.

Our MISSION: Leading people to be passionate about Jesus so they can lead others to Jesus

Invitation:

Over the last four weeks we have talked about the THREE Ministry Purposes of the Church:

WORSHIPING GOD

MINISTERING TO OTHERS

MINISTERING TO THE WORLD

Today we want to challenge you with an opportunity to Join Vertical Church and help us accomplish these three purposes! To help us accomplish God’s mission.

There is a difference between coming to this building on a Sunday and being apart of this body.

We have already said to reject the church is to reject Christ. And to reject Christ’s mission is to reject Him. Vertical is a church that has chosen a vision or mission, but rather, we belive have been given one by God. We are not asking you to join our mission, but to join us, as we join God in God’s mission.

Read through the Covenant briefly with the congregation highlighting that it is simply a summary of all that we have been talking about over the last 4 weeks (Make sure they are passed out when people come into service - have people raise their hand if they didn’t get one)

If you are already a Covenant Partner we are going to ask you to RESTATE your commitment by signing another Covenant (it has been slightly changed to include scripture references) because we are wiping the partnership roll clean and starting again fresh and new.

We are walking into a new season, and its important that we are united and understand what it means to be a part of the church..and its more than signing a paper.

If you have been attending and are currently not a Covenant Partner we want to challenge you to consider becoming one (We are not asking because we want something for you, but because we want something for in you relationship with Jesus. Ask people to take home covenant and pray over the scriptures and ask God what He would have you do)

A Call to COVENANT PARTNERSHIP is a call to allow God to establish the three ministry purposes of the CHURCH in your LIFE personally. You are not joining the church, because when you trusted in Jesus, you joined the church (aka the family of God/body of Christ). We are asking you today to consider joining the MISSION of God through the LOCAL CHURCH! To reject the local church is to reject the mission and to say I don’t want to grow in my relationship with Christ.

If you apart of the global church and saved, you should be a part of a local church. And we have biblcally shown that our mission at this church is God’s mission. Join us as we join God!

For some of you there may be some important NEXT steps you need to take before you are ready to commit to a Covenant Partnership: (Would you take one or more of these over the next 3 months)

Our goal is not just that you sign this paper, but we want to help you take your NEXT steps! And we are going to walk with you and check in on you! But my goal for every person that becomes a covenant partner is that they will move towards serving the church and community with the church onver the next three months!

Giving (Would you start if you never have before? )

Serving (Go by NEXT and tell them you are ready to serve and you need help getting started)

Joining a Vgroup (Let your location Pastor know you would like to join one)

Accepting Christ (There are people at NEXT ready to pray with you)

Baptism (Let us talk with you about Baptism)

What’s your NEXT step? Would you take it today and join Jesus on His mission?

My responsibility is to give you opportunities to pursue God and take your next steps! We are moving! I wish I could tell you all the things that I have seen just in 3 weeks of serving here! Join us! Join Jesus! Lets Follow Him together!